Trouble light holder and switch



Nov. 12, 1940. 1. E. BRYK TROUBLE LIGHT HOLDER AND SWITCH Filed June 17, 1959 INVENTOR Ignafzus 2 3% BY M myw ATTORNEYS s E a E N w w Patented Nov. 12,1940

I PATENT ort cg 2,221,295 TROUBLE LIGHT HOLDER AND SWITGI-I Ignatius E. Bryk, West New York, N. J Application June 17, 1939, Serial No. 229,649 2 Claims. (Cl. 2408.18)

This invention relates to an improved trouble light holder and switch and has for an objectto provide a construction which is adapted to be mounted on the instrument board of an automobile or other convenient place and automatically turn the current on and off as the light is moved into or out of engagement with the holder.

Another, object of the invention is to provide a holder for a trouble light provided with a switch which is automatically opened when the trouble light is mounted on the holder and which presents means acting as a reel on which the wires or cables of the light may be wound when not in use.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. l is a front view of a trouble light holder disclosing an embodiment of the invention, the same being shown applied to the instrument board of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig. 1 approximately on the line 2--2;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but provided with a diagram illustrating how the switch functions and how the light may be used;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the rear part of the holder shown in Fig. 2, the same being illustrated in connection with a supporting rod instead of the instrument board of an automobile.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by 30 numerals, l indicates any suitable panel, as for instance, the instrument board of anv automobile and 2 a number of clamping bolts for clamping in place the overlapping ends 3 of the holder frame 4. This frame is made from suitable 35 metal, as for instance steel, and is provided with a section 5 that really acts as a reel for the cable or wire 6. The material of section 5 merges into upper and lower loops 1 and 8, as shown in Fig. 2, and these loops merge into a front plate 9 having m a slot [0. A bolt H extends through the center part of plate 9 but is insulated therefrom and at the outer end provides a contact l2 adapted to be engaged by a swinging metal plate l3 which is pivotally mounted at M by having a pair of 45 fingers I5 projecting through suitable slots l6,

as shown in Fig. 1. This plate l3 acts as a clamping or retaining plate for a lamp II.

It will be observed that the clamping plate I3 is provided with a V-shaped portion l8 that 50 partly surrounds the base of the lamp and holds 'the annular bead l9 thereof projecting into slot In. This will prevent the lamp from becoming accidentally disengaged. A spring bears against plate l3 and is held in place by a strap 55 2|, whereby the spring continually functions to tend to swing plate l3 to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby it will engage when released the contact l2, as indicated in Fig. 3. Strap or sleeve 2| may slid along plate 9 to vary the tension of spring 20. The lamp I! will normally hold plate 5 l3 out of engagement with contact 12 and, consequently, the circuit of the bulb 22 will be opened. The moment that the lamp is pulled out of the holder, spring 20 will move the plate l3 over intoengagement with contact l2 and, 10 consequently, the circuit of the lamp will be closed.

As shown in Fig. 3, the plate 9 is grounded on one side of the battery 23 and wire 24 extends from the other side of the battery to one termi- 15 nal of lamp IT. The other terminal of the lamp I1 is engaged with a wire 25 which extends to the bolt II where it electrically engages the same and thereby charges the contact l2 continually. When the plate I3 engages contact 12 the circuit20 will be closed and the bulb will be supplied with current.

When it is desired to use the trouble light the same maybe grasped and pulled out of the holder, whereuponthe bulb 22 will immediately 25 light up. As much of the cable 6 as desired may be unwound from the section 5 and the trouble light used in the regular way. After use the trouble light is merely-forced downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the current is automatically turned off. Before this is done the desired amount of cable is wound on section 5 and then the lamp is placed in the holder.

By reason of this construction it will be seen that the trouble light is always in condition for use but current is not flowing until after the lamp has been disengaged from its holder.

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified construction is shown wherein a U-shaped bracket 26 is secured to the overlapped ends 3 by the bolts 2 instead of the bolts securing these ends to the instrument board as shown in Fig. 2. It will be evident that other means for mounting the holder may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. However, it is desired tomount the holder at a convenient place to the driver of the automobile so that he may at any time quickly grasp the lamp l1 and use the same.

I claim:

1. A trouble lamp'and holder including a body provided with a front plate having a slot therein,

a contact carried by said front plate, means for insulating said contact from said front plate, a lamp having having a bulb and a socket formed with an annular bead, said bead being adapted to project into said slot when the socket is resting against said frontplate and extending transversely thereof whereby the socket is held against independent movement transversely of the front plate, a clamping plate hingedly mounted at one end, said clamping plate at the free end having a pair of spaced substantially V-shaped clamping fingers fitting over said socket and straddling said bead for holding the socket against said front plate, a spring continually urging the free end of said clamping plate toward said front plate whereiby said socket is removably held against said front plate, and a circuit for said bulb including said socket, said front plate and said contact.

2. A trouble lamp and holder as set forth in claim 1 characterized by having means for adjusting the tension of said spring, said means having a retaining band encircling said spring and said front plate and slidable along said spring and front plate.

IGNATIUS E. BRYK. 

